The Sunflower Republican Club held its Second Annual Republican Round-up at Quivira Park Shelter in Overland Park. In spite of steady rain 65 citizens and 15 candidates for office steadfastly arrived to enjoy dinner catered by Flame Throwers BBQ.

Ryan Kriegshauser led the program with a powerful presentation "Remembering 9/11". The power point presentation of pictures began with the lead up attacks on U.S. Embassies and the USS Cole, through the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Pictures of some of the heroes of that tragic day were shown to remind us of their selfless acts.

Christian Morgan, Executive Director of the Kansas Republican Party, addressed the gathering.

Throughout the event a silent auction of rally signs and McCain/Palin pins was held. Doris Riley, Delegate from the 3rd District to the RNC Convention, brought the items back from Minneapolis/St.Paul. Republicans were eager for McCain/Palin collectables. Top bid for a pin was $25.00.

Each candidate gave a brief speech and had an opportunity to meet with constituents, distribute campaign literature and yard signs.

Candidates appearing:

Nick Jordan, Candidate for the U.S. 3rd Congressional District
Steve Howe, Johnson County District Attorney
Travis Couture-Lovelady, Represented Senator Pat Roberts
Karin Brownlee, Kansas Senate District #23
Dr. Jeff Colyer, Kansas Senate District #37
Arlen Siegfreid, Kansas House of Representatives District #15
Anthony Brown, Kansas House of Representatives District #38
Jim Yonnally, Kansas House of Representatives District #16
Joy Bourdess, Kansas House of Representatives District #22
Marvin Kleeb, Kansas House of Representatives District #48
Dave Lindstrom, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners District #3
Jim Allen, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners District #2
James Azeltine, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners District #3
Calvin Hayden, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners District #6

Sunflower Republican Club Election of Officers will be held on October 9, 2008. The slate of officers was presented:

President………………………… Doris Riley
1st Vice President………………. Marilyn Bianchino
2nd Vice President……………… Becca Korphage
Treasurer……………………….. Alice Hansen
Recording Secretary…………… Christie Kriegshauser
Corresponding Secretary……… Karen Loftus

Nominations will be accepted from the floor on October 9, 2008. Election will by secret ballot.

Lost and Found note:
One small lavender umbrella
One large blue and white umbrella

Contact Doris@sunflower.org to claim these items.

Meeting Notes: October 09, 2008
COUNTYWIDE FORUM ON NOVEMBER 04, 2008 BALLOT QUESTIONS
The Sunflower Republican Club welcomed approximately 80 people who were interested in learning more about the two ballot questions of concern to Johnson County voters on the November 04, 2008 ballot. Jack Cashill, serving as moderator, read the ballot question to those in attendance before the speakers gave presentations for and against the ballot question.

Ballot Question #1:

After winning the coin toss, Char Bredemeirer spoke on behalf of the Kansas Judicial Review of Johnson County. Char stated that the nomination system that began in 1974 was not accountable to residents. In 34 years no one has been a “watchdog” over the process. Chapter 20 of the Kansas State Statutes states that 14 people will decide which three applicants will be presented to the current Governor of the State for final selection. The rules state that open meetings will be held. In 2002 Attorney General Carla Stovall wrote an opinion that judges should be selected in open meetings and not by secret ballot. A Supreme Court Judge moderates the selection committee and tallies the votes. The commission reviews the resumes of the applicants and votes behind closed doors. Voters should know where judges stand on important issues. Elections will inform voters about their judges. Most of the candidates forwarded to the governor for final selection represent one party. The Kansas Bar Association selects seven of the members of the commission. Each County Commissioner nominates one person to the Commission. Politics is already in the system. The voters select nearly half of the District Court judges in the State of Kansas. Bredemeier asked that voters vote “yes” to elect judges.

Attorney Roger Stanton spoke on behalf of Johnson Countians for Justice. Stanton stated the ballot question was trying to fix a problem that did not exist. Johnson County judges are not activists. District Court judges do not make the law. Higher courts review rulings by District Court Judges. The current system allows voters to vote to retain judges. The voters can remove judges from the bench by voting not to retain them. Elections inject money and politics into the justice system. The justice system does not need judges that need to hustle for campaign money. Stanton, identifying himself as a Conservative, offered assurance that some members of the commission are Conservatives. Stanton stated that this system is the best possible way to select judges and it should be retained. He would lead the charge to retain the current system.

Ballot Question #2:

Tracy Thomas, volunteer activist, host of www.BermudaTraingleNO.blogspot.com won the coin toss. Thomas opposed the 1/8-cent tax because it was a “forever” tax without accountability to the taxpayer. There are no checks and balances to oversee this enormously expensive project. The banks and the pharmaceutical companies would benefit from taxpayer dollars. Thomas noted that not all medical plans cover KU Medical Center so many people would not be able to take advantage of the drug trials. She stated that funding universities was the responsibility of the state. Intellectual property rights will not be shared with the taxpayer. The profits will be a subsidy for the pharmaceutical companies. Banks would also benefit, as they would be loaning the money for the building projects and accepting tax deposits. The authority will manage the funds and does not report directly to the taxpayer. Tracy expressed concern that although the cure for cancer is a wonderful goal, the Fairway facility will be only for drug testing products in development. The concept of drawing more money to the area for cancer research designation is commendable but now is not the time. The promised donations and grants will be diminished due to the current economy. In a different forum Senator Brownlee stated that the projects would proceed even if the tax failed, just more slowly. This ballot question needs to be rejected as it flawed. We are projecting taxes on future generations forever.

Fred Logan representing the Education Research Triangle spoke next. Logan began with the announcement that Florence Lieberman just presented the KU Cancer Center with a $1 million gift. The triangle represents KU on the Edwards Campus, KU Cancer Center and Kansas State for Food and Agriculture Safety Research projects. The expansion at the Edwards location would hire new professors in science, math and technology. The KU Cancer Center would provide drug trials locally for cancer patients. In the last 40 years eight of the eleven drugs approved for cancer trials were the results of research done at the KU Cancer Center. K-State is one of the leading universities in the field of safety in food and agriculture and this will expand that research. Logan stated that the county would benefit as new companies and jobs are created. The tax needs to be permanent to ensure top researchers that funding will be available and is necessary to obtain NIC designation. Logan urged votes to approve the ballot question as this would build on what makes Johnson County great.

Meeting Notes -- November 20, 2008

TOPIC: Be in the Know! An Overview of Energy Policy and Solutions

SPEAKERS: Jeff Dykstra, P.D. Ph.D, Black & Veatch, Edward Cross, President of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association, and Rep. Rob Olson, Kansas House of Representatives, District 26

Jeff Dykstra presented a basic overview of America’s current energy consumption and the projections for 2030. Dykstra’s presentation included the breakdown between electronic, coal, wind, nuclear, and natural energy. During his presentation Dykstra addressed the questions of the role nuclear, wind and biomass energies will have in the future of the American energy solution, whether America will be able to reach energy independence before 2030, and if it will be possible to eliminate coal from the American energy mix.

Edward Cross spoke about the importance of oil and gas production in Kansas and the importance they play in the American market. The Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association (KIOGA) has educational programs to teach children the value of domestic energy production and importance of satisfying American energy needs with Kansas oil and gas. Cross discussed how our high standard of living could be traced to the use of petroleum. Today, an estimated 6,000 products are produced from petroleum. Among these products are the many types of transportation fuels, industrial fuels and chemicals, residential fuels, lubricants, waxes, asphalt, fertilizers, pesticides, photographic film, plastics and medicine. Today’s committed Kansas oil and natural gas producer continues to exercise their traditional service while still meeting their responsibility to protect the environment. The oil and gas industry employs thousands of Kansans and provides millions of revenue dollars to the State of Kansas.

Rep. Rob Olson began by discussing the Sunflower Energy expansion project in Holcomb, the role that it would have had in the Kansas economy, and the controversy the power plant caused when Governor Sebelius and Secretary Bremby blocked the construction of the project. As the Vice-Chairman of Energy and Utility Committee, Rep. Olson discussed the impact the Sunflower project would have on the prices Kansans pay for their utilities. Rep. Olson stated that the Holcomb plant expansion would again be an issue in the 2009 Legislative session.